Thorneloe developing motion picture arts program

Thorneloe University, which is federated with Laurentian University, is developing a motion picture arts program. The program will specializes in film and video production, and will be part of Thorneloe's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Program.

Thorneloe University, which is federated with Laurentian University, is developing a motion picture arts program.

The program will specializes in film and video production, and will be part of Thorneloe's Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Program.

Sudbury native Benjamin Paquette, an international award-winning filmmaker and educator based in Montreal for the past 15 years, has returned home with the task of developing this new curriculum.

Thus far, he has created a half dozen new courses, all of which Thorneloe intends to offer next year. More are soon to follow. For now, he has his hands full teaching the courses that Thorneloe currently offers in Motion Picture Arts, including Screenwriting, Photography and Cinematography.

Ironically, Paquette was forced to leave Sudbury to earn his BFA degree in film & video production because such a degree did not exist at that time anywhere in Ontario north of Toronto. Bypassing the Ontario capital for more exotic Montreal, he attended the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University, where he received both Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees in film & video production.

“As a kid, I remember being absolutely stunned when it was announced that Sudbury was supporting a film festival,” he said, in a release.

“Cinefest is such an incredible success, especially how it has always encouraged and supported local filmmakers. And now anyone will be able to study filmmaking in Northern Ontario at Thorneloe. Times have really changed.”